“Aquino, Pontio Pilato!” Filipinos worldwide enjoined to transform “Nat’l Day of Mourning” to “Global Day of Mourning for Justice”

January 29, 2015

By Migrante International

President Benigno Aquino III delivers his message on Mamasapano incident on January 28, 2015. Image from Inquirer

Global alliance of overseas Filipinos Migrante International extended its most heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the Mamasapano clash.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those killed from both sides. To the 44 PNP-SAF who were cold-heartedly sent to their own execution and to the MILF fighters who defended what to them are their territories especially as the Aquino government has practically recognized this assertion through a peace pact which is yet to be approved by Congress. They were sent to their own death row on specific orders. Heads must roll, and the biggest bloated head should be made accountable most of all,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Martinez slammed Pres. BS Aquino’s primetime speech last night, saying that “the speech elicited more questions than answers and it also made clear to the public that Aquino and his clandestine operators have blood on their hands.”

“Aquino did a Pontius Pilate, and Pontius Pilate had the gall to quote the Bible. He offered no sympathy, no categorical answers and no clear solutions and plans of action. All he did was double-speak, he evaded the questions with the clear intent of sowing more confusion among the public. He delivered all these with the sole purpose of exonerating himself of all and any accountability, short of declaring to the nation and the world that he is practically a clueless commander-in-chief,” Martinez said.

Martinez said that the public should continue to be relentless in pursuing answers to questions that arose because of the bloodbath. “If the so-called mission involved a high-ranking target, why were the AFP and PNP top brass and the DILG kept under the dark? What were the roles played by alleged operators ex-Gen. Purisima and Exec. Sec. Ochoa? What was Aquino himself doing in Zamboanga on the weekend of the mission? Why were US troops in the area and present during the clearing operations?”

“The most pressing question: Who gave the go-signal? This was deliberately not answered by Aquino. He obviously knew of the planned attack and for this alone he should step down from office.”

Martinez added, “As to who gave the orders, the question must be asked: Aquino, sino ang tunay na boss mo? The US’ hand in the attack cannot be denied. If it is true that the US called the shots, at the expense of sending hundreds of Philippine troops to suicide missions, in blatant disrespect of any existing peace pacts, then what should be under serious fire now are not efforts for peace by any party but any and all military treaties and agreements with the US. Pinag-aaaway-away ng US ang Pilipino sa kapwa Pilipino, Pilipino sa Pilipino ang nagpapatayan, dahil sa pagkatuta nitong si Aquino sa tropang Kano.”

Martinez called on all patriotic officers and personnel of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to join the Filipino people in calling for Aquino to step down from office, and to join the movement for a just and lasting peace in the Mindanao and the rest of the country through a genuine peace pact between the Bangsamoro and the PH government and the resumption of the GPH-NDF peace talks.

He also enjoined all freedom- and justice-loving Filipinos all over the world to transform Friday’s “National Day of Mourning” into a “Global Day of Mourning for Justice” to denounce Aquino’s accountability in the Mamasapano clash. ###